The Colonial The Colonial PeriodPeriod

The Path to IndependenceThe Path to Independence

Colonial GovernmentsColonial Governments

• Royal ColoniesRoyal Colonies• Charter ColoniesCharter Colonies

• Proprietary ColoniesProprietary Colonies

Royal ColoniesRoyal Colonies

• Created by a grant of authority under Created by a grant of authority under the kingthe king’’s authority to a group s authority to a group

• Governor appointed by the crownGovernor appointed by the crown• Advisory council appointed by the Advisory council appointed by the

crowncrown• An elected assembly, e.g. House of An elected assembly, e.g. House of

Burgesses in VirginiaBurgesses in Virginia• An established Anglican church An established Anglican church

Charter ColoniesCharter Colonies

• Created by Parliament and the king, Created by Parliament and the king, • Authority established through a charterAuthority established through a charter• Self governing either through a charter Self governing either through a charter

obtained from the crown obtained from the crown (Massachusetts Bay Colony) or self-(Massachusetts Bay Colony) or self-administered (Plymouth Colony) administered (Plymouth Colony) through the Mayflower Compact through the Mayflower Compact

• Governor selected by the colonyGovernor selected by the colony• Assembly elected by the colonyAssembly elected by the colony

Proprietary ColoniesProprietary Colonies

• Created when large grants of land and Created when large grants of land and authority were made to one or a small authority were made to one or a small group of men, known as the proprietors group of men, known as the proprietors

• Proprietor retains rights that are normally Proprietor retains rights that are normally the privilege of the state the privilege of the state

• Colonial government and rules are Colonial government and rules are established by the proprietorestablished by the proprietor

• Maryland (George Calvert, Lord Maryland (George Calvert, Lord Baltimore) and Pennsylvania (William Baltimore) and Pennsylvania (William Penn) are examplesPenn) are examples

Moves Towards UnionMoves Towards Union

• New England ConfederationNew England Confederation• Dominion of New England Dominion of New England • Albany Plan of UnionAlbany Plan of Union• Stamp Act CongressStamp Act Congress• First Continental CongressFirst Continental Congress• Second Continental CongressSecond Continental Congress

New England ConfederationNew England Confederation1643 – 16541643 – 1654

• A political and military alliance of Massachusetts, A political and military alliance of Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven

• Each colony had two votes regardless of populationEach colony had two votes regardless of population• Primary purpose to unite Puritan colonies against Primary purpose to unite Puritan colonies against

IndiansIndians• Provided for the return of fugitive criminals and Provided for the return of fugitive criminals and

indentured servantsindentured servants• Served as a forum for resolving inter-colonial Served as a forum for resolving inter-colonial

disputesdisputes• Provided a basis for the further collaboration of Provided a basis for the further collaboration of

Colonies in times such as the American RevolutionColonies in times such as the American Revolution• Ended when Massachusetts declined to join in war Ended when Massachusetts declined to join in war

against the Netherlandsagainst the Netherlands

Dominion of New EnglandDominion of New England1686 – 16891686 – 1689

• Short-lived involuntary union of Short-lived involuntary union of colonies in New Englandcolonies in New England

• Centralized authority imposed by the Centralized authority imposed by the crowncrown

• Created to enforce Navigation Acts and Created to enforce Navigation Acts and for mutual defense against the Indians for mutual defense against the Indians and the Frenchand the French

• Ended with the Glorious Revolution Ended with the Glorious Revolution and rebellion against English governorand rebellion against English governor

Albany Plan of UnionAlbany Plan of Union17541754

• Proposed by Benjamin FranklinProposed by Benjamin Franklin• Planned to include all colonies, except Delaware and Planned to include all colonies, except Delaware and

GeorgiaGeorgia• Called for a single executive (President-General) to be Called for a single executive (President-General) to be

appointed by the King, who would be responsible for appointed by the King, who would be responsible for Indian relations, military preparedness, and execution Indian relations, military preparedness, and execution of laws regulating various trade and financial of laws regulating various trade and financial activities.activities.

• Called for a Grand Council to be selected by the Called for a Grand Council to be selected by the colonial legislatures where the number of delegates colonial legislatures where the number of delegates would be based on the taxes paid by each colony would be based on the taxes paid by each colony

• Rejected by King George II and the legislatures of the Rejected by King George II and the legislatures of the individual seven colonies since it would remove some individual seven colonies since it would remove some of their existing powers.of their existing powers.

• Some features of plan were later adopted in the Some features of plan were later adopted in the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. Articles of Confederation and the Constitution.

Stamp Act CongressStamp Act Congress17651765

• Meeting of 9 colonies to discuss Stamp ActMeeting of 9 colonies to discuss Stamp Act• AdoptedAdopted Declaration of Rights and Declaration of Rights and

Grievances Grievances stating that:stating that:• Only the colonial assemblies had a right to tax Only the colonial assemblies had a right to tax

the coloniesthe colonies• Trial by jury was a right, and the use of Trial by jury was a right, and the use of

Admiralty Courts was abusiveAdmiralty Courts was abusive• Colonists possessed all the rights of Colonists possessed all the rights of

EnglishmenEnglishmen• Without voting rights, Parliaments could not Without voting rights, Parliaments could not

represent the colonistsrepresent the colonists

First Continental CongressFirst Continental Congress17741774

• Formed largely in response to the Formed largely in response to the Intolerable Acts. Intolerable Acts.

• Drafted the Drafted the Articles of Articles of AssociationAssociation, a compact among the , a compact among the colonies to boycott British goods.colonies to boycott British goods.

• Called for a Second Continental Called for a Second Continental Congress to meet in 1775.Congress to meet in 1775.

Second Continental Second Continental CongressCongress

1775 - 1781 1775 - 1781• Adopted the Adopted the Declaration of Declaration of

IndependencIndependencee• Created the Created the Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation• Acted as the de facto national government Acted as the de facto national government

of the United States by raising armies, of the United States by raising armies, directing strategy, appointing diplomats, directing strategy, appointing diplomats, and making formal treaties.and making formal treaties.

• Had no legal authority to govern.Had no legal authority to govern.• Could not tax. Could not tax.

The Articles of The Articles of ConfederationConfederation1781 – 17891781 – 1789

The Articles of The Articles of ConfederationConfederation1781 – 17891781 – 1789

Major Features –Major Features – States retain sovereignty in all areas unless States retain sovereignty in all areas unless

specifically deniedspecifically denied One vote per stateOne vote per state Foreign relations and war in the hands of CongressForeign relations and war in the hands of Congress Sets standards for weights and measures (including Sets standards for weights and measures (including

coins)coins) Congress acts as a court for interstate disputesCongress acts as a court for interstate disputes Congress can not taxCongress can not tax Requires 9 states to approve admission of new statesRequires 9 states to approve admission of new states Changes to the Articles require all states to vote for Changes to the Articles require all states to vote for

ratification ratification

The Articles of The Articles of ConfederationConfederation

(Congress of the Confederation)(Congress of the Confederation)1781 – 17891781 – 1789

Accomplishments –Accomplishments –Successful conclusion to Successful conclusion to

Revolutionary War – Battle of Revolutionary War – Battle of Yorktown (1781)Yorktown (1781)

Treaty of Paris (1783)Treaty of Paris (1783)Northwest Ordinance (1787)Northwest Ordinance (1787)

US after the Treaty of US after the Treaty of ParisParis